
Facilitating Fluent Talking
Top Tips for working with a Stammer
Anout 5-8% of Early Years children this age have a stammer or stutter (both words mean the same thing!).
Some of the best things you can do to support a child (aged 0-7 years old) with a stammer is to impliment the stratgies below as you play with them.
Set aside 5 minutes of 1:1 play time with the child at least once a day. Try not to bedistracted by your phone or other people during this time - the child needs to know they have your full attention for the whole 5 minutes
Let them take the lead in the play. i.e. Don't direct the play yourself, let them play in their own way and just follow their lead
Talk slowly yourself
Comment on what they are doing rather than ask them questions. e.g. instead of saying 'what's that?' say 'oh you've got the digger'.
Pause. Silence is good, it gives them time to plan what they want to say
Shorten sentences. Aim to use 2 word sentences with 2 year olds, 3 word sentneces with 3 year olds etc.
Don't ask them lots of questions.